Fold-away cabinet table



March 16, 1954 R. T. RICHARDS FOLD-AWAY CABINET TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 1, 1950 Fig. I.

Russell 7. Richards INVENTOR.

M r 6, 1954 R. T. RICHARDS FOLD-AWAY CABINET TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1, 1950 INVENTOR.

0 BY aodgwyfim Patented Mar. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLD-AWAY CABINET TABLE Russell T. Richards, Cape Girardeau, Mo. Application February 1, 1950, Serial No. 141,740

2 Claims.

A further object of the present invention is to i provide a cabinet, a table structure slidably carried by the cabinet and means forming a connection between the cabinet and the table structure for guiding the sliding movement of the table structure and for reinforcing and strengthening the table structure so that the same may withstand relatively heavy loads.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide an article of furniture that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable w in use, small and compact in structure, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

. Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the present invention and showing the tableextended from the cabinet;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the table structure enclosed within the cabinet;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the table structure enclosed within its compartment and the compartment door closed;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the underside of table structure shown in Figure 3 to illustrate the manner in which the table-top forming sections are retained coplanar; and,

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the manner in which table is retained extended from the cabinet.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral it represents a cabinet having a compartment or drawer i 2 at the upper portion thereof. The forward wall Id of the compartment is provided with an opening it for the compartment 12 and a door or closure it hinged to the forward wall It of the drawer I2 is held in a raised and closed position relative to the opening 5 6 by a spring clip 28 carried by the wall l4 and receives a complemental male clip 22 on the closure IS.

A horizontal panel 24 is mounted in the cabinet IG and constitutes the bottom wall of the compartment l 2. To the upper face of the panel 215 there is mounted a pair of spaced rails or blocks 26 supporting guide channels 28. The section 36 is formed with recesses 38 in its lower face that receive roller units or guide rollers lfi having peripheral grooves that receive the guide channels 28 whereby the section 36 may be moved into and out of the compartment I2 and through the opening I6.

A wall 52 rises from the innermost end of the section 36 and is formed with horizontal recesses 44 in its vertical end edges that rotatably receive roller units or guide rollers 46. The rollers d6 track upon horizontally disposed guide channel 48 mounted within the compartment l2 and on the side walls of the compartment.

Means is provided for retaining or locking the section 36 extended from the compartment l2. This means consists of a pair of brackets or holding plates 50 that are mounted on the forward face of the wall 42 adjacent each end thereof. The plates 50 rotatably support locking members 52 having finger gripping portions 55. The

side walls of the compartment l2, adjacent the opening l6, are provided with vertical grooves or recesses 56 that receive the locking members 52 tohold the section 36 against sliding movement in either direction.

The rear edge of an outer table-forming section 58 is hinged, as at 59, to the forward edge of the section 36 in such a manner as to permit the section 58 to be folded upon the section 36 and moved with the section 36 into the compartment i2 when the sections 36 and 58 are not being used.

A holding arm 62 is pivoted to the underside of the section 58 by a pivot pin 64. A spring arm 66 is detachably secured to the underside of the section 36. When the sections 36 and 58 are being used, the arm 62 is pivoted on the pin 64 until the free end of the arm 62 is positioned between the spring arm 66 and the lower surface of the section 36. The spring arm 65 will yieldingly urge the arm 62 against the lower face of the section 36 and the section 58 will be held against pivotal movement relative to the section 36 and the sections 36 and 58, are in this manner, held planar as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

Pairs of angle members 68 depend from the section 58 and function as guides for legs that are secured to the section 58 by hinges 72 which are mounted on the section 58 between each pair of angle members 68. The legs 10 are spaced parallel to each other so that the same may be folded against the section 58 to be enclosed within the compartment l2 when the sections 35 and 58 are not being utilized.

Means is provided for guiding the section 36 during its sliding movement into and out of the compartment. This latest guide means also connects the section 36 to the compartment 12 and functions as a combined reinforcing and strengthening means as well as a bracing means whereby the section 36 may support relatively heavy loads. This additional guide means consists of an open-ended tubular member it that is mounted on the lower wall of the compartment it between the rails 26 and which slidably receives a guide rod or tube 19. The rod 76 is disposed beneath the section 30 and is terminally secured to the section by brackets 18. The inner end of the rod 76 will enter a bore 760 in the rear wall of the compartment when the sections 36 and 58 are within the compartment.

In practical use of the present invention, the legs 70 are folded against the lower face of the section 58 and the section 58 is folded upon the section 3%. Both sections 35 and 58 are moved into the compartment 12 and the closure 13 is moved to a closed position.

For use of the table (sections 38 and 58 and legs 70) the sections 36 and 58 are moved out of the compartment and the locking members 52 are moved into the grooves 59. The section 98 is folded down and the arm 62 engaged between the arm '66 and the section 35. The legs 70 are then swung down to support the sections 35 and 58 in a substantially horizontal position.

It is preferred that the compartment 12 consists of a drawer, as shown in Figure 4, that is removably mounted within the compartment so that the table structure and drawer may be applied to various types of cabinets.

Also, the grooves 5% are reinforced by centrally slotted plates 56a to prevent the grooves 56 from becoming enlarged.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A fold-away cabinet table comprising a support having a front opening therein, upper and lower pairs of horizontal guide tracks fixed to the support behind the opening and extending to the opening, a horizontal guide tube fixed to the support between the tracks and paralleling the tracks, an inner table top section having front and rear ends, a vertical wall secured to the rear end of the inner section and extending between the guide tracks, horizontal rollers supported at the ends of the wall and ridingly engaging the upper guide tracks, additional rollers carried by said inner section riding upon the lower guide tracks, a rigid rod underlying the inner section and having a forward end secured to the front end of the inner section, said rod paralleling the tracks and being slidably received in the tube, said rod remaining in the tube when the inner section is moved forwardly through the opening to aid in preventing sagging of the inner section, locking means carried by the wall engageable with the support after the inner section has been moved forwardly to lock the inner section against sliding movement, an outer section hinged to said inner section and foldable upwardly upon the inner section to be moved through the opening with the inner section, and supporting legs for the outer section.

2. A fold-away cabinet table comprising a support having a front opening therein, upper and lower pairs of horizontal guide tracks fixed to the support behind the opening and extending to the opening, a horizontal guide tube fixed to the support between the tracks and paralleling the tracks, an inner table top section having front and rear ends, a vertical wall secured to the rear end of the inner section and extending between the guide tracks, horizontal rollers sup ported at the ends of the wall and ridingly engaging the upper guide tracks, additional rollers carried by said inner section riding upon the lower guide tracks, a rigid rod underlying the inner section and having a forward end secured to the front end of the inner section, said rod paralleling the tracks and being slidably received in the tube, said rod remaining in the tube when the inner section is moved forwardly through the opening to aid in preventing sagging of the inner section, locking means carried by the wall engageable with the support after the inner section has been moved forwardly to lock the inner section against sliding movement, an outer section hinged to said inner section and foldable upwardly upon the inner section to be moved through the opening with the inner section.

RUSSELL '1. RICHARDS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 167,161 Freese Aug. 31, 1875 377,269 Peterson Jan. 31, 18 8 916,069 Wadsworth Mar. 23, 1909 1,212,992 OBrien Jan. 16, 1917 1,549,957 Belden Aug. 18, 1 25 1,697,286 Ohnstrand Jan. 1, 1929 1,775,307 Gennar Sept. 9, 1930 1,851,855 Lindemann Mar. 29, 1932 2,078,338 Moore Apr. 27, 1937 2,112,087 Golcd Mar. 22, 1938 2,126,617 Chase Aug. 9, 1938 2,271,241 Reitzel Jan. 27, 1942 2,471,730 Doerr May 31, 1949 

